Vienna

Author: Dora M.
Date of Trip: October 2006

Want to have fun? Play like a kid? Indulge in chocolate? I have the ideal destination for you. Vienna! Although our trip was not during the Christmas period, my husband and I had the time of our lives.

To start with, for accommodations, I recommend the Hotel Royal, nearby the Cathedral. Baroque decorations and excellent service. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is wonderful. Try to be there and hear the organ. If you are lucky, you can visit the chapel tower and enjoythe magnificent view.

A walk in the historical center is all you need to relax and empty your purse. Believe me, everything can be found in this HUGE market — from the biggest stores and boutiques to picaros and strollers!

Are you thirsty? Stop by the cafe-patisserie Demel. Taste some of the hundreds of cakes and tartes along with your cafe au lait and lounge. Should you be lucky, you can find a table — something that is generally rather difficult to do.

Pay a visit to theroyal palaces — there are plenty of tickets that combine entry in two or more places. If you think that getting to the palace by foot is rather too much, the best, most luxurious way is getting a horse carriage from St. Stephen’s Cathedral.Speaking of horses, don’t fail to visit the Spanish Riding School and enjoy the morning exercise with music (you’d better pick up your tickets a day or two earlier to avoid the queue).

Have an afternoon tea or a light dinner at Mozart’s Cafe. In Prater Park, you will find one of the biggest wheels where you can admire the city from above. Be sure to visit town hall and hop all over the city. It is well worth it! Almost all the buildings in this city maintain their neoclassic lines.

Last but not least, whether you are a classical music fan or not, relish one musical concert — either in Kulsalon or anywhere else! Believe me, there is something different because you are in the capital of music: Vienna! Smile and enjoy it.